Surface condenser



May 3, 1927. f

E. P. WORDEN SURFACE} CONDENSER Filed Aug. 5. 1926 J. v. 14 f FHO D-UTHO by SACKETTB WIL HELMS CORP. NM

Patented May 3,

UNITED STAT I 1,626,772 PATENT OFFICE.

EUCLID P. wonmm, or GLEN RIDGE, unw-zinnsnx, ASSIGNOR T0 wonrnmeron PUMP AND MACHINERY COBPOQATION, OF NEW YORK, N. IL, A GORPORATION'OF VIRGINIA.

SURFACE eommnsnn.

Application filed August a, 1 926. Serial No. izsjzeo.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type, and the primary object of the invention is .to provide a condenser in which leakage of cooling water, circulated through the tubes of the condenser, into the steam chamber and its mixing with the condensate will'be prevented.

In steam condensers the temperature of the tubes is constantly fluctuating and the difference between the temperature of the tubes adjacent to the steam inlet and those .remote therefrom, of a condenser operating with the varying load is constantly fluctuating through a wide range. Because of this ithas heretofore been the practice to provide stufi'- ing box connections for one or both ends of the tubes with the tube heads in order to accommodate the expansion and contraction of the tubes. Such stuliing box connections are objectionable for various reasons, one of which is the difliculty in avoiding leakage,

especially as the temperatures to Whichtliey are sometimes subjected are so high as to injuriously affect the packing in the stuffing boxes so that leakage results. In the present pure'water power plant systems, where boiler feed water is purified by dega'sification, etc., to eliminate to the greatest possible extent corrosion and other detrimental actions on.

the boiler tubes, pumps, etc., employed in the power .plant, it is highly desirable to prevent the circulating cooling water, which is not treated for purification, from leaking from the tubes and mixing with the condorsate or boiler feed water as such mixing counteracts to a certain, extent the action of the purifying mechanism of the system To overcome such leakage it is ne essary to provide fluid tight connections betweenthe tubes and tube heads of the condensers, andin so doing cognizancemust be taken of and compensation made ,for variances in the temperatures in the'condenser,variances in the expansion and contraction relation of the tubes with the shell or casingof the condenser and also difference in'temperatures locally within the condenser, whereby the tubes'in one set or bank or in one location of the interior of the condenser will be subjected to greater or less temperatures and temperature variances than tubes in another part of the condenser.

It is an object of the present inventio-nto provide a condenser construction which will permit a fluid tight connection between the tubes and tube heads and will compensate for variances in temperatures and conditions as outlined above.

The present invention embodies essentially a condenser having a floating water box to which one of the tube heads is attached.

, which is connected to the condenser shell or casing by a fiexible or expansion joint to per mit movement of the'water box and tube liead relative to'the condenser shell upon ex-. pansion and contraction of the condenser tubes under heat variances, and also embod- 1es means for supporting the movable. water box and tube head "in relation to the condenser shell in such manner as to permit tion, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

Inth'e drawings- Figure l is a side elevation of a surface condenser constructed in accordance with i this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the condenser illustrating theexpansion joint. I Figure 3 is an enlarged detail in side elevation of the supporting connection between the water box and condenser shell which per-' mits compensating movement of the water box and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the 'compensating supporting connection.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the steam condenser, which is of; thesurface type, embodies the shell linto which the steam passes through" the exhaust inlet tube-and inwhich it is condensed through the cooling action of cooling water circulat ing through the tubes 3 which extend from the water box 4 to'the water box 5. 'The condensat'e passes to the hotwell 6 from which it is taken in the approvedmanner.

The tubes 3 through which the cooling water is circulated are carried by suitable tube heads within the condenser and in the present invention they are expanded into the I tube heads, welded to the tube heads,'or'

- otherwise attached so as to form afluid tight joint to prevent leakage of the circulating cooling water into the condensing chamber.

Owing to variances in temperatures in the condenserthe tubes 3 will have fluctuating expansion and contraction and theforce of such expansion and contraction is so great v would break the connection of the tubes with which is attached to the water box 5 in any suitable'manner, is connected, to the shell 1} x casing 1 for relieving the expansion joint 8 the heads, break the heads or tubes and de- 'stroythe' effectiveness of the condenser.

, "To compensate for the expansion and con-J traction of the tubes 3 and the tubehead 7,

by an expansion joint 8. The-expansion joint 8 is preferably-,lformed of flexible ma- 'terial are composition of rubber but-any suitable material may be. employed which will permit of movement of the tube head? i and water box relative to thejcasing" 1,

The strip of material of which theexpansion joint 8 is formed is attached totthetube head 7 and the casing 1, respectively, by binding rings 9 and nuts 10,as clearly shown in'Figure-2 of the drawings. I c

Bolts 11 are threaded into the casing 1 and extend slidably through the flange 12 on the water box 5..- Springs l3'are coiled fabout 'the'bolts 11 and engage the casing 1 and the flange 12, the said springs being provided to sustain pressure of the atmosphere and they are set to put the initial tension on the tubes 3 to facilitate'the sensitiveness of-the action of the expansion joint Nuts" 14' are threaded on the bolts 11 and by'adjustment of these nuts the expansive action of the springs 13 and of thevexpan'sion joint. S-may be limited.

In surface condensers the tubes at the top of the condenser or adjacent to It-heinlet ofthe exhaust steam are subjected to hi her temperatures and greater temperature uctuations than the tubes at the bottom of the condenser, where the condenser operates under varying loads, and because'of-this condition the tubes in different parts of the-con- .denser will have different degrees of expansion and contraction',icausing unequal movement of the tube head 7 and water-box 5 at differentparts of the tube head and water box, and owing to the relativelygrea t- "Weight of the water box and tube head, it is necessary to provide a supporting connection between the water box andthe casing depending knife edgebearing members 23 on their wer ends which have knife edge engagement in hardened steel blocks 24 carare attached to the. condenser shell 1 in any suitable manner. The knife edge engagenent between the knife edge bearings 23 and i the supporting members 25 will permit pivotal movement of the water box 5, relative to the condenser shell or casing-1, while the rollers 26 will provide sliding supports '-which will permit thev water boxto move longitudinally relative to. the casing 1 and,

supports for the water box 5 relativelto the of the stress of the weight of the water thereby providing both. pivotal. and slidable connection with the accompanying-[draw ings, it will be apparent that a'fcondenser structure has been provided which will permit the tubes 3 through whichthe cooling heads with fluid tight joints such asexpansion'ofthe' tubes into the heads-and all ex Y [n ate liability of the'bre'akageoffthe' joi-nts between the tubes and-tube heads-andthat a condenser structurehas been provided in whichleakag'e of the cooling water into the condensing chamber willbe eliminated.

not to be limited to the specific'construction or arrangement of parts shown but that these may b'efimodified widelywithin the invention defined'gbythe claims; I

What is, clainied'isz' 1 a v 7 1. In asurface condenser, a shell, a water box, 'a tube head carricdthereby, a flexible connection between the water-\bo'x and shell, and atmospheric pressurefsustaining' means between said water box and shell.

water is circulated to be attached tdthetube It will'be understoodthat the invention is i 2. Ina s urfaceecondenser, a shell, a water I box, a "tube head carried thereby, a flexible connection between the waterbox and shell,

and atmospheric pressure sustaining means H between-said water box and shell, and rockable supporting connection between said water box and shell.

314111 a surface condenser, a shell, awater box, a tube head carriedthereby, a flexible connection between the water box-and shell, atmospheric pressure sustaining means between said water box and. shell, and, rockable and sliding supporting-connection between said water box'and' shell.

4. In a surface condenser,a shell, awater box, a' tube head carried thereby,a flexible connection between the water'box and shell,

and rockable and sliding supportin connection" between'said water box andls ell.

I 5. he surface-condensena she'll, a water box, a tube headcarried thereby, an. expansion joint between said'tnbe-heada'nd shell, and atmospheric pressure sustaining means between said .water box and shell.

6. In "a surface condenser, a casing, a

' water box, a tnbe head carried thereby, tubes having their ends expanded in said tube head, and an expansion joint between said tube head and shell, and rockable support ing connection between said water box and- "shell.

I head, an expansion joint 7 In asurface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube head' carried thereby, tubes having fluid tight connection with said'tube between said tube head and easing, means expanding movement of said expansion joint and means, for movably supporting said water box independently of said tubes and flexible joint.

8. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box,

a, tube head carried thereby, tubes having fluid tight connection withsaid tube head, an expansion joint between said tube head and casing, means for limiting the'expending movementof said expansion joint,

and a rockable and slidingsupporting connection between said water box and shell.

9. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box movable independently of the shell, and

' a rockable connection between the water box and shell.

10. In a surface fcondenser, a shell,

water box' movable independentlyof the shell and a-rockable and slidable connection between the water box and shell.

11. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box movable independently of the shell,

supports on said shell, rollers on said supports, support members resting' on said rollers, and rockable connections between said support members and water box.

12. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box movable independently ofthe shell, supports on said shell, rollers on said supports, support members resting on said. rollers, rockable connections between said, support .members and water box," and anexpansion joint-between said water box and shell.

13. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box movable independentlyof the shell, supports on said shell, rollers on said supports,

support members resting on said rollers,

brackets carried by said water box and having knife edge engagement with said suport members to provide roekable connection etween the water box and support members.

14. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box movable independently of the shell, supports on said shell, rollers on said. supports,

support members resting on said rollers,

for limiting the ,brackets' carried by said water box and having knife edge engagement with said support member'sjto provide'rockable connection between the watenbox and support members,

and: an expansion jointbetweensaid water .box and casm I 15. In a sur ace eondenser,a shell, afwater box movable independently ofv the shell, supports on said shell, rollers on said supports,

support members resting on said I rollers, brackets carried by said water box and hay ing knife edge engagement with said support members to provide rockable connection between thewater box and support members, I

an expansion joint between said water :box

and casing, and means for limiting expand-1 ing movementof said expansion joint. 16. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box movable independently of the shell, sup,- ports on said shell, rollers on said supports, sup ort members resting on. said rollers, brac ets carried by said Water box and'having. knife edgeengagement with said sup-, port membersto provide rockable .connection between the water box and support' I members, an expansion joint between said water box and casing, and atmospheric pressure sustaining means between said water box and ca'sin 17. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water I box, a tube headcarried thereby, an expan-' sion joint between said tube head and casing,

between said casing and water box. a 18. In a surface condenser, a shell, a water box, a tube head carried thereby, an expan sion jointbetween the tube head andsh'ell,

atmospheric pressure sustaining springs between said shell andwater box, .and means; .for limiting the action of said springs and said expansion joint.

19; In a surface condenser, a shell, a tube for ,limiting the expanding movement of 'head, an expansion joint between said tube head and shell, tubesi rigidly connected to said tube head, and means for ,applying initial tension on said tubes.

20. In a'surface condenser, a shelLa-water box, a tube head carried thereby} tubes rig- -idly connected to 'saidtube head,=j.an expansion jointbetween said tube headfandshell,

, EUCLID P. WQRDEN.

'and atmospheric pressure sustainingsprings i 

